"Really?"
One of the wolves howled. It sounded just like what I'd heard in the ravine. I watched as a third, smaller wolf approached the eating pair. It tried to snatch a bite from the bloody carcass. The two other wolves growled. One of them lunged at the third, snapping and snarling. The small wolf retreated a few feet and watched longingly as the two larger wolves devoured their food.
"Why won't they let that one eat?" I asked. "There's plenty to share."
"That one's the omega." Charity pointed at the smaller wolf. "He's the lowest member of the pack. They treat him like a whipping boy."
"That's so not fair."
"At least the alpha of this pack isn't totally brutal. He'll let the omega eat eventually." The large wolf bared its teeth as the small one tried to approach again. It lunged at the omega's throat.
I turned away. I'd hate to see an alpha more brutal than that.
"Don't forget about your boyfriend." Charity pointed at the phone.
"Oh." I knew that she was teasing, but I wondered if I'd ever be able to call Daniel that. I walked into the kitchen. "Hello?" I said into the phone.
"Grace?" It wasn't Daniel.
"Oh hey, Pete."
"Hey, so my mom wants to know how James is doing." "He's line."
"Good." Pete paused. "I hope you don't hate me for not saying good-bye yesterday. My mom wasn't feeling too great after everything that happened."
"No worries," I said. To be honest, I hadn't even thought of Pete since I went into the woods with Daniel. "So what's up?"
"I'm calling in my rain check."
"Rain check?"
"For bowling. You still owe me a date." I could tell from the sound of his voice he was using his
"triple threat" smile. "For tonight?"
"Yeah. We're doubling with Jude and April," he said, like the date was already set in stone.
"Dinner, bowling, and then a party at Justin Wright's."
"Oh."
I wondered if I should go. Not for Pete's sake, but for Jude's. I hadn't talked to him since he'd freaked out the night before. The fact that he even wanted to go out and have fun with his friends was a good, but surprising, sign. How would he feel if he knew I was passing on spending time with him and April so I could hang out with the person he hated most? But as much as I felt I should go, nothing could make me blow off a chance to run with Daniel.
"I'm sorry, but I already have plans for tonight."
"Then change them," Pete said.
"I can't." I tried to sound apologetic. "I've got to go. I'll see you at church, okay?"
"Yeah, okay." His voice sounded hard. No smile at all.
DINNER THAT NIGHT
Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, my mother makes her famous turkey a la king. It's this creamy sauce with chunks of leftover turkey and fresh veggies she serves in little flaky pastry cups. And since we have it only once a year, no one in my family ever misses this meal. Except that Charity, Don, and James were the only ones sitting with me at the table when Mom brought the steaming pot from the stove. Don and Charity banged their forks and knives on the table in happy anticipation.
"Save some for the others," Mom said as Don ladled a second scoop of creamy sauce into his already overflowing pastry cups.
"No way!" Charity grabbed the ladle from Don.
"Their loss," I said, and passed the salad to my mom.
"Where'd Jude take off to anyway?" Mom asked with a hint of annoyance. "It's not like him to miss this meal."
"He has a date with April." Mom frowned.
"Where's Pastor D-vine?" Don asked.
"He's not back yet," Mom said. "He'll be here soon ... I hope." James smacked his hand into his a la king, sending a spray of peas and cream sauce across the table. He laughed and shouted his new favorite four-letter word.
"James!" Mom went a little red in the face. "Where would he possibly learn that?" Charity chuckled.
"Haven't a clue," I said, trying to keep a straight face. Daniel would have laughed his head off had he been here. Really, it was a shame that he wasn't. This was one of his favorite meals, too. I checked the contents of the pot, and then ladled up a smaller portion for myself than normal. After everyone was finished and gone, I dished up a Tupperware of leftovers for Daniel. He deserved it--especially if the others weren't going to show up to enjoy it. He'd put on weight since I'd first seen him last week--like a stray dog thriving under the care of a new owner. He was still thin, but his face was less hollow. My food donations must have done him good, but Meredith Divine's turkey a la king would truly be appreciated.
I stuck the container behind the milk, deciding to save it as a surprise for after our run, and then I went to meet Daniel.
EVENING
I could see the walnut tree creaking and swaying in the wind, so I decided to wait for Daniel in the front room. I settled into the sofa with my history book--Daniel was always late, after all--and used the opportunity to do some homework. But once I'd finished the assigned reading for the whole next week, I couldn't shake the creeping feeling that Daniel wasn't going to show--like something was wrong.
The house was quiet. Mom and James had gone to bed hours ago, Dad had finally come home and gone straight to his study, and Charity had left for a sleep-over with her friend, Mimi Dutton, next door. But I couldn't concentrate anymore, not with the noise in my head telling me that even Daniel would know that ten p.m. was way too late to be considered "after dinner." I would have just called it a night and gone to bed if it hadn't been for the eerie feeling that accompanied that thought.
I was standing in front of the window when I noticed something moving in the grass near the walnut tree. The movement happened again, and I wondered if the Duttons' cat had gotten out. I hated the idea of something happening to Mimi's cat--like what had
happened to Daisy--so I decided to take action. I draped an afghan around my shoulders and went outside.
I slinked toward the side yard, so as not to scare the cat away. But as I approached, I realized that the huddled mass under the tree was much too large to be anything but human.
"Daniel?"